NEW GUIDANCE ISSUED ON SURPRISE BILLING, OUT-OF-POCKET LIMITS, AND FACILITY FEES

by Birch | Jul 17, 2023 | Uncategorized

Late last week, the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and Treasury (the Departments) published a set of FAQs that clarify how certain surprise billing protections interact with the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) maximum out-of-pocket limit (OOP)...

IRS REMINDS PLAN SPONSORS OF CAFETERIA PLAN CLAIMS SUBSTATIATION REQUIREMENTS

by Birch | Jun 26, 2023 | Uncategorized

The federal Section 125 “cafeteria plan” regulations permit health plans to reimburse participants for qualifying medical and dependent care expenses on a pre-tax basis through health flexible spending accounts (FSAs) and dependent care assistance plans (DCAPs)...

IRS CONFIRMS CERTAIN “WELLNESS” PROGRAMS CANNOT BE USED TO AVOID TAXATION

by Birch | Jun 21, 2023 | Uncategorized

Over the past several years, the employer-plan marketplace has seen a rise in “fixed-indemnity wellness policies,” which promise to help both employers and employees save on income and employment taxes. Under these arrangements, employees elect to defer cash on a...

EMPLOYER PLAN GUIDANCE ISSUED ON THE END OF THE COVID-19 EMERGENCY PERIODS

by Birch | Apr 26, 2023 | Uncategorized

On April 10, 2023, President Biden signed H.J. Res. 7 into law, thereby ending the national state of emergency related to COVID-19 that was declared under the National Emergencies Act. Separately, the Biden Administration has announced that May 11, 2023 will be the...

FEDERAL JUDGE VACATES ACA PREVENTIVE CARE
COVERAGE REQUIREMENTS

by Birch | Apr 6, 2023 | Uncategorized

Last Thursday, U.S. District Court Judge Reed O’Connor of the Northern District of Texas issued a final judgment that strikes down portions of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) preventive care coverage requirement. The ACA requires the following preventive care services...